"EVERY FORM OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HUMAN DIGNITY AND CONSECUENTLY VIOLATES FUNDAMENTAL CIVIL RIGHTS, REGARLESS OF THE AGE, GENDER, RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP OR SOCIAL CLASS OF THE VICTIMS.”
UNESCO
In many countries, child prostitution is a cruel and alarming reality, resulting in devastation. It is not unusual to see boys and girls who prostitute themselves, be it occasionally or as a full time venture, end up as delinquents and addicted to drugs.
Certainly a great number of these human being have many frustrations and do not have a clearly established scale of values, and it is utopic for them to think they have some kind of an escape from them disgraceful lives.
There are well known people who are aware of the effects brought about by child prostitution. On the other hand a newspaper in Brazil published an article which leaves a lot to be said: “Countries where child prostitution is frequently practiced and tolerated and accepted, in fact it is promoted because of the money it generates, troubling and devastating results from this problem are greatly perceived.”
Any economic benefit produced by this becomes null by the disgraces this activity brings about, directly affecting them at all levels, personal (individual), family and social.
In spite of the many and tireless efforts made by organizations and individuals to eradicate child prostitution, this problem continues to grow.
As we become aware of this crude reality, many questions arise. What is the cause of this situation? Why are there so many people who tolerate and even promote such an activity?
It is important to point out that prostitution is the third income producing business world wide, following drug and arms trafficking. According to the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), there is a constant growth in prostitution in every capacity.
In a Latin American country, a civic organization informed that there are five hundred thousand girl prostitutes. While in a neighboring country there are three hundred thousand children prostitutes on the streets, especially in neighborhoods where there is drug traffic.
According to reports by experts, one million girls are prostitute themselves under inhumane and enslaving conditions. Some countries are notorious for being the Mecca of child prostitution and sexual tourism.
Taking into account the high incidence of sexually transmitted disease, including HIV (human immunodeficiency virus or better known as AIDS) and HPV (human papiloma virus), clients are willing and spare no expense to have sexual contact with children, since they assume they have a better chance of being virgins and there by not be infected.
According to that expressed by a specialist and social researcher, fear of AIDS has lead men to seek younger and younger girls and boys, a situation which worsens this social problem even more.
| POVERTY CONDITIONS AND CHILD PROSTITUTION |
 Child prostitution is linked with misery and poverty, and is fed by these two. Exploitation and prostitution of children is clearly linked to the disintegration of the family nucleus and are products of dire poverty and hunger. Some parents confess that poverty has forced them to prostitute their children. On the other hand, children who live on the streets turn to this practice since they believe that it is the only way they can survive.
Other anecdotes and testimonies state that some of those who prostitute themselves end up joining a gang. In summary to obtain food they might steal and at first sell their bodies sporadically, but there comes s time when they begin to live from prostitution.
On other occasions there have been cases of trafficking minors, where children are sent to other countries to work in prostitution. It is important to note that the amount of money the emigrants send to their country of origin has to be considerable.
It can be said that the citizens from developed countries who travel to other countries to buy the services of young minors and children, are also responsible for the sexual exploitation.
Time magazine mentions the dangers to which these young people who practice prostitution are exposed on the streets. “Some of these young people are barely 12 years old and usually come from broken homes, disintegrated. During the day they sleep where ever, and at night they wonder around places to meet their clients.”
Under the influence of narcotic drugs, the prostitute can be submitted to humiliation and abuse that they normally would never consider agreeing to. For example, in one case the media reported that the police found 92 videos where a medical doctor recorded the horrible episodes that he submitted more than 50 women to; of course among them there were several minors.
And if this inhuman reality were not enough, a young prostitute declared the following: “If I had a job, it would not even be enough to eat, because I did not finish school, nor did I graduate, I don’t have a degree, I’m not a professional. My family is aware of everything, and I do not want to leave this life style, this is my body and I can do with it what ever I please.”
At the beginning, however, all these people had not intentions of prostituting themselves. According to a social worker, many of the young prostitutes dream of getting married and having a prince charming. Because of the complicated present circumstances these people take up this life style, an investigator states: The thing that scares them the most and makes them helpless is that the majority of them were molested in their own houses.” |
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